Perfect Liar: A Dark Romance Thriller (Beautiful Ashes Book 1)

by Dori Lavelle

  “I’m fine.” He pauses. “I’m calling to ask how your husband is doing. You were worried about him not coming home.”

  “Yeah. Umm...well, he did come home eventually.”

  “That’s good to hear. But unfortunately, he quit his job. He sent in his notice by mail.”

  I stare at the empty road in front of me for a while as Deacon’s words sink in.

  “He quit? I had no idea.”

  “Yes. And he didn’t offer much of an explanation. I was wondering if everything is all right with him.”

  “The thing is, Deacon, I can’t give you the answers you need. Hunter and I are separated.”

  Silence plugs the line.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Deacon says finally. “That...that’s—”

  “It’s fine. But if you need to know what’s going on with him, it’s best you call him directly.”

  “I understand. Thank you for your time.”

  “No problem. Thanks for your help the other night.”

  Deacon’s call makes me even more nervous. The fact that Hunter quit his job means he’s really affected by our separation. Clearly our marriage meant more to him than his career, but in an unhealthy way. But what if he’s now using his free time to torture me?

  When I arrive at Karen’s home, I notice Vivian’s BMW parked in the driveway. I knew she was coming over this evening to check up on me. It feels great to know that my friends are there for me no matter what.

  As soon as I get into the house, Vivian is the first to pull me into her arms for a tight hug. She’s a little late to the party of my life because she was out of town.

  “Bree, I’m so sorry about you and Hunter.”

  “Thanks, sweetie.” I pull away. “But it’s for the best. He has changed and I’m refusing to change with him. There’s no way it can work.”

  “Karen told me everything.” Vivian takes my arm and leads me to the kitchen, where Karen has cocktails waiting for us.

  “I thought you might need these.” She waves at the fancy drinks.

  “I do.” I pick up a piña colada and lift it to my lips. “You guys are the best. Thank you so much.” I take a sip of the sweet drink, then lower it to the table. “He sent me flowers today,” I say.

  “He’s really determined to get you back, isn’t he?” Karen says, coming to place an arm around my shoulders.

  “It wasn’t normal flowers.” I sink into a chair, my fingers around the cool glass of my cocktail. “The bouquets looked identical to the one I carried on my wedding day, but the flowers were all dead. And instead of water, the vases were filled with urine.”

  “What the fuck,” Karen says while Vivian covers her mouth with a hand, her eyes wild with shock.

  “Something is seriously wrong with that guy,” Vivian says.

  “You can say that again.” I take another sip from my glass. “I don’t even know what to say or do at this point.”

  “Maybe you should go back to the cops.”

  “But they said I shouldn’t go unless I have evidence to prove he hurt me physically.” I rub my temples. “I don’t understand how they claim to protect people and at the same time what they’re doing is endangering them.”

  My friends sit down on both sides of me and we drink our cocktails in silence. When I’m done, I face each of them in turn. “Thank you so much for being here. I don’t think I could do it without you.” I wipe a tear from my cheek. “Honestly, I don’t even know where to go from here.” I know exactly what I can do. I can get a restraining order against him. I should have done it already. What’s holding me back?

  “Do what your heart tells you,” Vivian says.

  “I talked to Jacob Gunning about getting a divorce.”

  Karen lifts an eyebrow. “The hot guy you slept with two years ago?”

  “I wouldn’t want to think of him like that, but yes. Well, I want him to help me through this process.”

  “He must be overjoyed.” Vivian laughs, then claps a hand over her mouth. “Sorry, this is not funny.”

  “Actually, it is a little funny. In this messed up situation, I can either laugh or I can cry. I prefer to laugh.”

  “You’re going ahead with this, then?” Vivian asks in a low voice.

  “I don’t think I have a choice. The man I married doesn’t exist. He was an illusion. I’m not staying married to a stranger who sends me flowers dipped in piss.”

  “We’re glad you’re not letting him break you,” Karen says.

  I raise my glass and tap each of theirs. “To a new beginning,” I say, even though I know that the new beginning I long for won’t happen anytime soon. There’s a lot I’ll have to go through before I can breathe out again.

  “You’ll be fine.” Vivian places a hand on mine. “You’re stronger than most.”

  “I like to think I am.” I pause. “I hate that my mom is not speaking to me. I tried calling her today. She’s strongly against me getting a divorce.”

  “Did you explain why you’re doing it?” Vivian asks.

  “I don’t think she cares about my reasons. All she thinks about is the church and what people will say. She told her friends that I’m married to this amazing man and now she will have to tell them, only six months later, that the marriage failed. I guess she’s embarrassed.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that. This is your life.” Karen gets up from her chair to get ice from the fridge. “She’ll come to terms with it in time and might even respect your decision.”

  I take a huge gulp of my drink, finally feeling the effect of the alcohol. “There’s something I didn’t tell you guys,” I say. “Hunter hit me. That was the main reason I actually walked out on him.”

  Both my friends are quiet for a long time.

  “What a fucker,” Karen says through gritted teeth. “Did you tell the cops about this?”

  “Yes, but the mark on my face was gone. They needed to see the proof and it was no longer there.”

  My friends spend the next minutes calling Hunter—and the cops that are letting him get away with abuse—all kinds of insulting names. Then they both hug me tight.

  Our moment is broken by the sound of my phone ringing.

  “It’s Hunter,” I say with a quick intake of breath.

  “Will you pick up?” Vivian asks, her face red with anger. “Maybe it’s time you give him a piece of your mind. Or let me speak to him.”

  “No, it’s fine. I’ll do it.” My mouth dry, I press the phone to my ear. “Hunter, it’s over. Stop contacting me and sending me books and rotten flowers. Our marriage is over and your piss stinks...just like the love you claim to feel for me.”

  “Never. Our marriage will never end,” he shoots back. “And you will come back to me. It’s only a matter of time.”

  My hand is trembling as I cut him off from saying anything more to terrify me.

  “What did he say?” Karen asks.

  “He thinks our marriage is not over. He thinks I’m still going back to him.” I chew a corner of my nail. “I think he’s planning to do worse things to me. I’m scared of him, you guys. I’m really scared.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Jacob watches me over the rim of his glass of water. We decided to have dinner instead of lunch, and we just finished our desserts.

  “Are you sure you want to go through with this?” he asks.

  “I’m surprised you’re asking me that question.” I can’t help a smile creeping up on my face. “You were the one wishing it would happen.”

  “Bree, I wanted you to be happy.” He shrugs. “I admit I was disappointed when you refused to give us a real chance, but I want you to be happy. That’s the main thing.”

  “Thank you.” I run a hand through my hair. “Yes, I do want to do it.”

  “Are you going to tell me exactly what it’s about?” He lays his hands on the table, his palms flat, fingers splayed. “You don’t have to go into details, but it would help to know.”

  “Hunter de
cided that he doesn’t want me to work. He wants me to stay home as a housewife.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Jacob’s head snaps up. “He wants you to throw everything away that you’ve worked hard for?”

  “Yep. He wants my career to go to hell so I can prioritize our marriage.”

  “That’s fucked up. You’re one of the best damn lawyers I have ever come across.”

  “Jacob, you have no idea how much that means to me.”

  I study his face and it hits me, not for the first time, how handsome he is, even more than Hunter. If I have to be honest with myself, I know Jacob is the complete package. He makes me laugh and he supports my career. I’m also quite attracted to him. But I never allowed myself to have him. I was worried that if things didn’t work out, it could get messy and I’d lose him as a friend.

  “I mean every word.” Jacob rubs the side of his face. “So, do you want to set everything in motion immediately or do you want to give yourself more time to think about it?”

  “There’s nothing to think about. Our marriage is dead.”

  “Okay.” He nods. “We’ll need to talk about who will walk away with what.”

  “I don’t care. I just want to get out so I can go on with my life. Give him whatever he wants.”

  Even as I say the words, I know exactly what he wants, and it has nothing to do with money or property. What he wants is something he cannot have, not anymore.

  “Are you completely sure about that? You won’t regret it later?”

  I swallow hard. “I have many regrets right now, but this is not going to be one of them. I want out.”

  “Well, that will make things so much simpler.” Jacob finishes his water. “We’ll need to talk over your divorce again officially at the office then I’ll set everything in motion.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate your help.”

  “It’s my job. And you’re my friend. Like I said, I want you to be happy.” He winks. “I won’t lie to you. This does give me a little boost.”

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself. This doesn’t mean you’re getting a chance. In fact, I think I’m going to take quite a long break from men after this.”

  “He must have really hurt you.” Jacob leans forward. “I’m truly sorry about that.”

  “So am I.”

  When we get up to leave the restaurant, Jacob pulls me into a hug, and I find myself burying my face into his shoulder, inhaling his fresh, citrus-scented cologne. It’s hard to let go because I feel so safe in his arms. He has always been good to me. But instead, I rejected him and married a stranger.

  When he finally lets go, I blink away tears so he doesn’t get to see them.

  He places a hand on my cheek. “It’s okay not to be strong all the time,” he says.

  I hate that he sees my weakness, especially since he’s one of my colleagues. But at the same time, I’m relieved to know I have his permission to feel without the fear of being judged.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Hunter

  Even from a distance, I’m aware of Bree’s every move. Today is the day she returns to me, where she belongs. I’ve given her enough chances to do the right thing, but she fucked up.

  As soon as she exits the isolated road that leads to Karen the bitch’s house, I start my rented Toyota and follow her. I’ll be right behind her all day if I have to. With no job to go to, time is all I have.

  When she reaches the Denzel & Co. building, I park on the other side of the road and pull out my binoculars. I watch as she parks her car in the parking lot belonging to her firm. I watch as she exits the vehicle and glances around for a few seconds before hurrying inside.

  A smile stretches my lips. She knows I’m near. She senses I’m watching her. She just doesn’t know that by the end of the day, she’ll be mine again, forever this time.

  She disappears into the building, her hips swaying from side to side. My fingers tighten around the binoculars. The skirt she’s wearing is tight and way too short for my liking.

  Her wardrobe is one thing I’ll change when I get her back.

  It fucks with my mind that she’s flaunting her body at every available man, especially that asshole, Jacob Gunning. I know he has the hots for her. I saw it in his eyes the day Bree introduced me to him at their firm’s Christmas celebration last year.

  The fucker had undressed her right in front of me with his eyes. Bree later confessed that she had slept with him once, but it had been a one-night stand, a mistake. I had not said anything then, but I was fuming inside.

  Knowing she’s at the office every day, working side by side with a man who has seen her pussy, makes me want to hurt someone.

  If he thinks she’s now available and he has a chance, he’s out of his fucking mind.

  Bree is mine. If I can’t have her, no one else can.

  I toss the binoculars onto the passenger seat and lean my head back, ready to start the long wait. I have everything I need in the car so I have no reason to get out.

  My phone ringing distracts me from thoughts of Bree.

  It’s Deacon Smith again. What the fuck does he want from me?

  I wait for the ringing to stop, then I send him a text.

  Fuck off. We’re no longer colleagues. Don’t contact me again.

  I switch off the phone, hoping I won’t hear from him again.

  Bree doesn’t leave the building until lunchtime. Chewing on a bagel, I follow her to a smoothie bar, where she grabs a green smoothie, which she sips as she picks up her dry-cleaned clothes. Back at the firm, she puts the clothes in the car and disappears into the building again until 5:30 P.M., earlier than she normally leaves work.

  When she emerges from the building, Jacob is with her, but they get into their separate cars.

  I’m fuming when I follow them to a seafood restaurant, ten minutes from their offices. They walk in side by side, pretending they’re not having an affair. But I know they are and there will be hell to pay.

  When they disappear out of sight, I grab the knife I brought with me from the passenger seat and drive the blade into the seat, not giving a fuck that the car is not mine.

  I’m tempted to follow them inside, but that would ruin my plans. If I’m going to act, I have to do it now.

  This game is over, and it will end my way. My temples are throbbing and my breath is coming out in short bursts as I wrap the knife in a kitchen towel and get out of the car.

  I’m quite good at breaking into cars, a skill I learned as a kid. It doesn’t take me long to get into Bree’s without raising suspicion.

  It’s impossible to fit myself in the small space between the passenger seat and the backseat, so I lie on the seat, making myself as small as possible, and cover myself with the clothes she picked up from the dry cleaners.

  I have to stay hidden in case Jacob follows her to the car.

  I wait for close to an hour and she doesn’t show up. My mind starts to race. What if she got into his car and they drove to some hotel to fuck? I’m still holding on to that terrifying thought when, after another fifteen minutes, I hear a beep, followed by the sound of the driver’s door being opened.

  I don’t move or breathe as I wait for her to enter the car, hopefully alone. If Jacob dares enter her car, I’m prepared to slit his throat.

  I hear the ruffle of her clothes as she makes herself comfortable in her seat. She’s alone. It’s just the two of us.

  I start to breathe again, her perfume flooding my nostrils. I missed the floral and spicy scent of her.

  Bree closes her door and my fingers tighten around the knife handle. I removed the kitchen towel a few minutes ago.

  The car doesn’t spring to life immediately. Does she know I’m inside the car? Does she smell my cologne?

  Silent relief envelopes me when I finally hear the sputter of the engine as the car comes to life.

  I finally have her to myself.

  I don’t move a muscle as she drives off. I listen carefully to the sound th
e wheels make as they slide against the road. I also pay attention to the outside sounds of cars whizzing by. Finally, the sounds become less loud and the road gets bumpier.

  We’re on the road leading to Karen’s house. I’ve driven along this road enough times in the last days to recognize every sound. I had followed her to that house since the first day she spent the night. I’d watched her freak out when she saw me flashing my light in the garden. She must have thought she was going crazy.

  This is it. This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.

  I carefully push the dry-cleaned clothes aside, cringing as the plastic covers whisper.

  As soon as I get to a seated position, she glances in the rearview mirror.

  Our eyes meet. Hers widen with shock and fear and her mouth falls open.

  I’m getting the reaction I had wanted. It’s so satisfying that I feel myself getting hard.

  “Hello, sweetheart. I missed you.” I deepen my voice to frighten her even more than she already is.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Bree

  The moment my eyes meet Hunter’s and hear his new creepy voice, my body freezes and I lose control of the car. It veers off the road, but I hit the brakes before I drive into a tree.

  Blood rushing in my ears, I blink several times, hoping I’m only imagining this nightmare and he’s not really here. But he is.

  When I got into the car earlier, I thought I smelled his cologne, but I brushed it off as my imagination messing with me. Now I wish I had followed my instincts and stepped out of the car. I could have asked Jacob to drive me to Karen’s.

  I watch with horror as he pushes himself through the two front seats to settle into the passenger seat.

  His face twists into a grin as he pushes an arm past me to press the master button that locks the doors.

  I can’t do a damn thing, too paralyzed from the sheer fright sweeping through me. I want to say something, but shock is spurting through my veins. After a few croaks, I find my ability to speak again.

  “Get out,” I say in a hard tone, my hands tight around the wheel so he doesn’t see they’re shaking. “Get out of my fucking car.”